With the arrival of spring, many people feel tired and exhausted. In this article, we will explain the causes of so-called spring fatigue and we will also give you some advice on how to deal with it.
The sun is shining, the temperatures rise, nature flourishes again and the days are getting longer: spring announces its arrival. But not everyone is able to live well these first days of spring, which in fact provoke exhaustion, enteropathy and circulatory problems. According to Health Promotion Switzerland, each year about half of the Swiss population suffers from spring fatigue. Between mid-March and mid-April, these people feel apathetic, exhausted and irritated.
Spring fatigue is not a disease, but a disorder that manifests itself with the transition from winter to summer. One of the main causes is to be found in the hormonal change that occurs in our body. Serotonin also called the "happiness hormone", is produced in the presence of light. In winter, as the body is less exposed to light, the level of this hormone is lowered and then raised again when the days lengthen. At the same time, in the spring, the melatonin level is lowered. This hormone that regulates the sleep-wake rhythm is produced in greater quantities in winter. Our body needs a few weeks to restore the hormonal balance.
Also, the temperature change can stress our body. The return of heat causes a dilation of blood vessels and a lowering of blood pressure and these phenomena, in turn, cause fatigue and abatement.
Possible remedies
• Spring fatigue is not a risk to health and disappears naturally, naturally. However, in this transition phase, some remedies may be useful:
• start the day with alternating hot and cold showers to stimulate the circulatory system;
• Move a lot in the open air and fill up with fresh air. If you work in the office, try to go out during the lunch break;
• make sure that the lighting conditions of your workstation are adequate (at least 500 lux);
• Follow a healthy diet rich in vitamins and drink a lot. Avoid heavy meals that promote tiredness;
• Try to reduce daily stress and get enough sleep.
Attention to the signals of the body
In addition to the harmless spring fatigue, there are also forms of fatigue and exhaustion more serious. If regardless of the season, your tiredness lasts longer, it is advisable that you visit your doctor. Chronic fatigue is often also a symptom associated with diseases, organic deficiencies or psychic stress.